The word(s) "honest/y" appears in my favorite translation of the Bible far fewer
times than I would have expected. The sole New Testament use was in the parable of the sower, when Jesus characterizes the "good soil" as those who hear the word in an “honest and good heart,”
hold it fast, and bear fruit “with perseverance” (Luke 8:15).
But it’s
probably not scripture-twisting to think of honesty as part of…or
even roughly equivalent to…”integrity.” "Honest" may even be the general attitude and practice that scripture means by “righteousness.”
I have to think too of “honesty” as a response to Truth; which makes
it specifically an orientation toward Christ. That “lies” are the
contrary spirit and the contrary response seems to bear that out.
In Jesus’ parable, an “honest and good heart” is the only soil in
which God’s word takes root and grows. I understand our interpretations
of what God “speaks”…Truth/Jesus, scripture, reality…to be some of the
“fruits” that grow from our heart-orientation: and honest and good interpretations only from an “honest
and good heart.”
Certainly LACK of honesty seems the common characteristic of those who
“cherry-pick” facts, or try to live in an echo-chamber of their own making, or block
dissenting comments from their blogs. In all those instances, the individual's purpose is clearly to “validate” his own alternative "reality"
against the reality God perfectly (in Hebrew, "completely") speaks.
I have to think those who choose to interpret the facts of reality dishonestly ultimately seek to deny God’s
sovereignty: and in dishonest hubris, substitute their own.
But it’s probably not scripture-twisting to think of honesty as part of…or even roughly equivalent to…”integrity.” "Honest" may even be the general attitude and practice that scripture means by “righteousness.”
I have to think too of “honesty” as a response to Truth; which makes it specifically an orientation toward Christ. That “lies” are the contrary spirit and the contrary response seems to bear that out.
In Jesus’ parable, an “honest and good heart” is the only soil in which God’s word takes root and grows. I understand our interpretations of what God “speaks”…Truth/Jesus, scripture, reality…to be some of the “fruits” that grow from our heart-orientation: and honest and good interpretations only from an “honest and good heart.”
Certainly LACK of honesty seems the common characteristic of those who “cherry-pick” facts, or try to live in an echo-chamber of their own making, or block dissenting comments from their blogs. In all those instances, the individual's purpose is clearly to “validate” his own alternative "reality" against the reality God perfectly (in Hebrew, "completely") speaks.
I have to think those who choose to interpret the facts of reality dishonestly ultimately seek to deny God’s sovereignty: and in dishonest hubris, substitute their own.